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Gradient Investments

An independent, privately-owned, fee-only SEC registered investment advisor, providing professional money management services.

Gradient Investments

At Gradient Investments, LLC, our innovative approach to investing is focused on understanding our clients and providing personalized investment solutions. We believe that client access to our investment professionals is an invaluable service that is rare in the financial services industry.

Who We Are

Gradient Investments is an independent, privately-owned, fee-based, SEC registered investment advisor that provides professional money management services. We serve individuals, employer-sponsored pension plans, foundations, endowments, and corporations primarily through exchange-traded funds (ETFs), options, and separately managed accounts.

Investment Philosophy

We actively manage accounts through our proprietary Wright Investment Strategy, which is based on the principles of flight. The Wright brothers conquered this challenge by developing a scientific 3-Axis Control System that is still used today on fixed-wing aircrafts. We address investment challenges through a parallel 3-Axis Control System.

1st Axis: Risk Exposure

2nd Axis: Investment Strategy

3rd Axis: Investment Performance

Active risk management is the foundation of our investment process. Risk exposure is defined as the potential deviation from an expected outcome. Standard deviation is used to measure the volatility of an investment. Higher standard deviation of an investment results in greater relative risk (and possible reward) due to uncertainty in the amount of return within the portfolio. Our approach to risk exposure minimizes standard deviation, and our risk management strategy helps to ensure assets are actively monitored and balanced based on investors’ desired risk profiles.

Investment strategy is defined as a set of rules, behaviors or procedures that guides investors to select appropriate investment portfolios. Our tailored investment strategy is designed around personal risk tolerances, and our investment selection process within our proprietary model portfolios is client-focused. Unlike other investment managers who offer the same portfolio to every potential client, we take a different approach. Rather than forcing investors into arbitrary categories, we build portfolios tailored to their individual objectives, risk tolerances and time horizons.

Investment performance is defined as the rate of return on an investment portfolio (given investors' unique risk profiles). We measure investment performance against their goals and objectives. Our disciplined investment approach is shaped by a long-term investment focus, thorough due diligence, and a belief that broad diversification across and within asset classes is essential for long-term success. Our portfolios are designed to yield higher annual returns and less volatility relative to their respective benchmarks. Our Investment Performance Axis uses calculated charting, sophisticated performance reporting, and our proprietary investment tool, Portfolio Pilot. This invaluable tool provides the opportunity to visualize the relationship between risk (standard deviation) and reward (return).

Is Gradient Investments Right For You?

Nationally recognized - Gradient Investments recently ranked 125th in Financial Advisor Magazine's 2023 Annual RIA Ranking in the August 2023 issue *

Ranked 25th out of 2,429 RIA firms – Top 1 percent, a measure of how many clients are opening new accounts with Gradient Investments **

Ranked 86th out of 2,429 RIA Firms – Top 4 percent – for CHANGE IN TOTAL ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT, a measure of growth in total dollars managed by Gradient Investments **

* The facts and data herein are calculated and reported by a third party. Financial Advisor Magazine's Annual RIA Ranking is based on 12/31/2020 Discretionary and nondiscretionary AUM reported on Gradient Investments' Form ADV. The published rankings are on FA's website, www.fa-mag.com. Gradient Investments is not affiliated with Financial Advisor Magazine. This data should not be used as the sole basis for making any investment decision. This information is not an indication of future results or performance and is not an endorsement of Gradient Investments, LLC by Financial Advisor Magazine. Please consult your investment advisor and for information on Gradient Investments, please request a copy of our ADV Part 2A.

** Net New Accounts and Change in Total Assets Under Management are reported by Orion Advisory Services, LLC as of 2/28/2022. The data does not represent all RIA firms, rather a subset of RIAs/money managers who use the services of Orion. Gradient Investments is not affiliated with Orion. This data should not be used as the sole basis for making any investment decision. This information is not an indication of future results or performance and is not an endorsement of Gradient Investments, LLC by Orion. Please consult your investment advisor and for information on Gradient Investments, please request a copy of our ADV Part 2A.

*** Assets Under Management as of 10/31/2023

Experience On Your Side

We built our dedicated investment team around seasoned investment professionals: our portfolio managers provide decades of institutional investment experience and have a deep working knowledge of the individual client market. Whether your clients’ investment goals are preserving principal, maximizing income or accumulating capital, our investment team has a carefully designed strategy to help them achieve their long-term investment goals.

Michael Binger , CFA® President
Jeremy Bryan , CFA® Senior Portfolio Manager
Nicole Alexander Chief Compliance Officer
Keith Gangl , CFA® Portfolio Manager
Tyler Ellegard , CFA® Portfolio Manager
Lisa Schreiber Investment Analyst
David Aamot Investment Analyst
Jonathan VanOrden Senior Investment Consultant
Matthew Anderson Senior Investment Consultant
Robert Punch Senior Investment Consultant
Becky Willenbring Director of Operations
Andy Fischer Director of Trading
Investment Team Video Meet Our Team
Bloomberg Businessweek
Fox Business
The Wall Street Journal
CNBC
Los Angeles Times
Reuters

GI In The Media

Our investment team is regularly featured in the national media in print and on television. Some recent appearances include CNBC, Fox Business, Bloomberg, and the Wall Street Journal.

Additional media appearances

Picker's Market Podcast

Explore episodes from our Picker's Market Podcast, market trend analyses, investment strategies, and expert interviews. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting out, our channel provides valuable insights to help you navigate the market and uncover growth opportunities. Subscribe today and stay ahead with Gradient Investments!

Market Commentary

Investing can be a challenging yet rewarding process. Information changes rapidly which is why it is so important to stay informed. Please enjoy our latest market commentary and reflections.

Investment Strategies

Our investment selection process within our proprietary model portfolios is client focused. We build a portfolio tailored to your unique objectives, risk tolerances and time horizons. Watch the videos to learn more about our proprietary model portfolios.

Gradient Tactical Rotation Strategic & Tactical
Gradient Core Select Strategic & Tactical
Gradient 50 Dividend Portfolio Strategic & Tactical
Gradient 33 Growth Portfolio Strategic & Tactical
Gradient Contrarian Choice Strategic & Tactical
Gradient 40 International Strategic & Tactical
Energy Sector Focus Strategic & Tactical
Gradient Portfolio Tilt Series Asset Allocation
ETF Endowment Series Asset Allocation
Fixed Income Series Asset Allocation
Laddered Income Strategy Asset Allocation
Gradient Stable Value Asset Allocation/span>
Absolute Yield Portfolio Asset Allocation
Gradient Socially Responsible Asset Allocation
Precious Metals Portfolio Asset Allocation
Gradient Investments Buffered Index Portfolio Parameter Series
Dual Directional Buffered Index Portfolio Parameter Series
Designed Income Portfolio Parameter Series
Buffered Outcomes ETF Portfolio Parameter Series
Digital Discovery Asset Allocation

Portfolio Analysis Review

Our proprietary Portfolio Analysis Review (PAR) process gives you a detailed breakdown and thorough written analysis of your entire investment portfolio. The PAR process combines powerful third-party statistics with a simple, easy-to-read report so you can truly understand the possible risks and rewards of your current investment portfolio.

01

A client gathers and provides financial statements to you along with a completed Color of Money Risk Analysis.

02

Our investment team, along with Case Central’s team of CFPs, will conduct a comprehensive Portfolio Analysis Review on your clients current holdings. This includes the following areas of analysis: Morningstar Rating (1-5 Stars), Fees and Expenses (loads and internal fees), Performance (1, 3, 5, 10 years), Risk Exposure (as measured by standard deviation), Allocation and Diversification.

03

The Allocation Roadmap™ provides a unique overview of your proposed client asset allocation. The goal is to customize an overall financial strategy better tailored to your risk tolerance, investment objectives and time horizon. This powerful tool is meant to give you a general forecast of what you may expect long-term from this proposed allocation from a risk and reward standpoint. This proprietary tool allows you to analyze multiple investment strategies tailored to your risk tolerance, time horizon, investment objectives and income needs.

04

Once the Morningstar Report and Allocation Roadmap™ are completed, we create a Compass Report to cap-off your financial analysis. Our Compass report uses prudent forecasts to illustrate how your income and portfolio balances will move overtime.

The Proprietary Client Investment Process

The ultimate goal of this process is to bring your client’s investments in line with both their risk tolerance and their ever-evolving financial goals. Utilizing an Account Summary, Portfolio Analysis Process, Allocation Roadmap™ and Compass Report, we work with you to develop a financial plan for your clients’ that truly works in concert to help them meet their long-term financial goals.